An east coast grower/packer of hard skinned fruits (apples, pears, etc.) has long been using molded pulp trays as an interleaving/cushioning material for its more exotic/expensive agricultural products. The grower had been experiencing some damage and was open to exploring other options.
Pregis and its local distributor brought Microfoam® XFS to their attention. Microfoam® XFS has long been used to address packing requirements for the West Coast agricultural community, but this represented the first opportunity on the East Coast.
The closed‐cell polypropylene foam has a high coefficient of friction which makes it ideal for immobilizing food items and preventing abrasion/bruising in a variety of applications.
Unlike other cushioning material types such as polyethylene foam which is not FDA certified and also leaves an oil residue, Microfoam®XFS is inert and dry to the touch. Its white color is consistent with the purity desired by food applications.
Further, it has minimal absorption properties, so Microfoam ® XFS is resistant to staining and mold/mildew growth. Additional properties include thermal protection and vapor transmission.
Initially, a ¼‐inch Microfoam was trialed, which proved to be overkill. The material was scaled back to 1/16‐inch and the desired results were achieved at a cost‐competitive level.
